Remove police prosecution powers —NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association has thrown its weight behind the plan of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke, to remove prosecution powers from the Nigeria Police Force.

The NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN), told SUNDAY PUNCH that stopping non-lawyers from handling the prosecution of criminal cases was long overdue.

He stated that the move was in the interest of the country and would help improve dispensation of justice.

He said, “We have been saying it that the police should allow lawyers to handle prosecution. The issue is not about removing the police power to prosecute, it is about not leaving the prosecution of criminal cases in the hands of non-lawyers.

“Most times, the police prosecutor does not fully understand court proceedings. Sometimes, when they appear before the magistrate, they are unprepared and might not know what to say. They might not know when to raise objections in court and that is because their knowledge of law is limited.”

Wali refuted claims that the NBA was pushing for the removal of police prosecution powers in order to open up more opportunities for its members.

He said the association’s stance was based on the need to prosecute criminal cases to logical conclusions.

He insisted that police prosecutors lacked the competence to win cases against defence counsels, which may include senior advocates.

“This is not about creating more jobs for lawyers. It is a clear fact that the police prosecutors lose cases they should have won because they are not competent to handle those cases. There is no way we can have justice if that continues,” Wali said

Adoke, who spoke at a national dialogue on torture, extra-judicial killings and national security, with the theme, ‘Human Rights Implications’, organised by the National Human Rights Commission, on December 9, 2012, said his office planned to withdraw police power to prosecute criminal suspects in courts.

Adoke said the police was peopled by laymen who could not tackle defendants’ counsel in the court.

In the AGF’s plan, the police would focus only on investigations of criminal acts of suspects, and engage the services of legal practitioners to handle the prosecution of offenders, on behalf of the state.

He, however, noted that the general state of helplessness and need for victims of crime to get justice had led to a culture of self-help.

Removal of prosecution powers from police long over due. Worst aspect of it all is that you have junior policemen handling serious criminal matters and they use that as avenue to extort money from both the plaintiff and defendant. I am a victim.

John

It was a great error in first instance that you allow law-illiterate,glorified school certificate holders to prosecute suspect represented by SAN and cerebral lawyers.Hugwashes!

Ibrahim Makanjuola

Its true, some police prosecutor did nt knw hw to proscute or face defandant’ counsel in d court durin d trial, i implore our government to find a quick solution to dis for d intreset of d justice in dis country.

Olo

The solution is not to remove the prosecution powers from the police rather, policemen should be trained as lawyers to handle prosecution job. Or those who are already trained lawyers should be given the job. This problem is from the police authorities, specialist are no longer posted to their area of specialization, instead they are posted to their area of interest, just because they are connected to the police high command in one way or the other.

Selfa nden

NBA say they want to remove power of proscution from police,then which organisation do people want to handed over to NCDFC.The police have lawyer there are so many police who can stand and defend case in court.Pls NBA if u peoples dont have anything to presence to nigeria forget.

@Olo u said it all; I can tell u categorically today there is thousand of Police as lawyers in this country today which most of ur SAN can’t defeat when case arise. Don’t u know that all this lawyers ‘re more corrupted than the police. “CORRUPTION” cancer to every ministry in Nigeria. Nonsence.

Henry

That guy is mad why not police imploy lawyers into the police to that this cases. Please these lawyers are asking for more job

Dey

the problem of police is within the police, i knew some lawyers in the police that they have never been to court a day, some of them are in MOPOL, highway patrol etc.

newton

Police o, lawyer o, judge o; they’re all corrupt. In fact, the judges are even more corrupt. Lawyers my foot

WHY?

What ‘re we saying, go to High Court where Nigeria SAN & judge normally set our looter free to see state councel who is a lawyer whether he can withstand some police prosecutor. Barawo,

Ndi Igbo

Pretenders, looking for a cheap job. Mr NBA stop deceiving Nigerians we are ok with that. You should have sujested that police should use their lawyers to prosecute cases, mind you as we criticize the police we still value them in critical areas.

Daking

Its true that most Police prosecutors are not Lawyers but understand the procedures in line with their training and long practice. But its not out of place that there are uncountable number of Lawyers in the Police who are even more professional than the inexperience ones you are talking about. This is madness are we now saying Police Lawyers who went to the same Law School with the ones you are advocating for are nolonger qualified. Stop washing your dirty linen in the public and tackle your incompetence. NBA can not better than what the Police is presently doing. It would have been clear if you come up openly to say you want to create more jobs for your jobless colleagues and open up more avenue for corruption in the Judiciary.

idahor

this is a sealed case let d police use their lawers. nba my foot.

factual babe

more police personnel should be trained in d art of prosecution,investigation and interrogation.

D-1

NBA find something else 2 tell us… Most of this people u are talking about are also layer them find thereself in this job for the mean of finding something to do…go to other country we will see how it was… NBA FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY…

Bayo

AGF & his colleagues in MBA are only interested in getting the contract of prosecution from the state and make more money without considering their less privillege colleagues. Encourage your young members to join police and police authority to give preference in rank placement.

Selfa nden

I still tell some people that nigeria police force is an organisation is well design, but becos peoples claim that they are born to rule and the leadership of this country belong in their hand.If note we have people who educated than Lawyer that are proud of theirself.pls go round of every ministry there is difference .Recrutment of nigeria police now is when u have OND,NCE, DEGREE.but other is SSCe.

wee richard

mistake this country wil ever do try it an see does layer.

Ndi Igbo

Na wah for this man’s grammer, though you have communicated. tanks after all,

Francis

Does it mean u guyz dont have better things to discuss.go back to ur chambers and look for something to do

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